And Mr Dudson says he would consider using workers from Poland because low unemployment in North Staffordshire makes it harder to fill shopfloor vacancies. "All of us have got shortages of people and you have only got to look at the jobs pages in The Sentinel to see that," he says. "We are trying anything we can to attract people because it's holding back our plans and that is fairly common throughout the ceramics industry - we would take people from wherever we could."

Meanwhile Steelite International, which takes on agency staff to cope with seasonal demand, confirmed it would consider using Polish workers to make sure orders are met.

Managing director Ray Chadwick says: "If an agency came along with people from Eastern Europe, providing they were willing and able, I would have no problem taking them."

In May, eight Eastern European countries - Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia - joined the EU.

Under EU rules people from these countries can now work in the UK providing they register with the Government as legal migrants.

But even though the Polish staff at Wades are perfectly entitled to work in the UK, the agency behind the scheme claims Eastern European migrants can suffer prejudice in this country.

Paul Landrum, director of Wirral-based Top UK, says: "I suffer a lot when I try to book accommodation for our workers because of the negative asylum seeker image.

"But make no mistake - these people are not asylum seekers.

"They speak a minimum of two or three languages and they are all on the British pay as you earn system.

"We deal with them because of their education, culture and good attitude."

CATU has criticised Wade for using Polish agency workers, claiming there are "thousands of willing and able pottery workers in Stoke-on-Trent".

But according to Top UK, Eastern European workers could become an increasingly familiar sight on North Staffordshire's potbanks. "I would say their role in traditional industries will increase due to the employment situation and the fact the British people don't want to work in these sorts of industries so much any more," says Mr Landrum.

"The only options for some potteries is to close the doors or to find workers elsewhere.

"These people aren't taking the jobs of locals and I would urge people in North Staffordshire to knock on Wade's door with their cvs - if you are more suitable for the job then you deserve it."

Since May, recruitment agencies from the new Member States of the EU have targeted companies in North Staffordshire in a bid to find work for their compatriots.

Sentinel Sunday has seen two emails - from Poland and Lithuania - offering staff for various sectors including construction, catering and food production.

Dave McGuinness, managing director of Aspect Personnel in Hanley, adds: "I know a lot of people in the area, recruitment agencies and employers, who have had the emails. We have seen an increase in the number of Eastern Europeans coming through the doors, and they want to work."